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I agree with GHWB singling out "the cables". He should throw in the radio talk shows. Both have figured out how to make lots of money by being short on facts and reason, and long on opinion and emotion. While I believe that most of the hate mongers come from the right, the left is trying hard to catch up and is as mindless in its chatter as the right.

Mixed in with opinion and emotion are a TON OF FACTS that the Dem/Left don't want you to know and the regular media simply won't report.

If the "main-steam" media was doing its job properly and report NEWS instead of opinion and emotion, perhaps the cables and talk radio would not be getting the ratings they are.

Fox News may have conservatives working for them, but they consistently present competing views and put on opposing pundits. The regular news and the other cables rarely, if ever follow suit.

Mr. H.W. Bush represents an endangered species. A statesman and a gentleman. And that's coming from someone who disagreed with much of his policies. He put his neck on the line during WWII, and did it again during his presidency by raising taxes. He only survived once. He has worked with his successor towards noble causes, and now with an unpopular president in his neck of the woods. He is what this country needs more of, no matter what letters are behind one's name.

While I don't disagree about the character of Bush Sr, at the time, part of what was used to defeat him for re-election was the famous "read my lips" quote about not raising taxes.

Which is more important? 1) Honoring the campaign promise? or 2) Doing what needs to be done, even if it is unpopular?

We sometimes get a better view of a President's achievements (or lack thereof), after time allows us to look at the record from a more unemotional perspective. Lincoln was not very well-liked, but history proved him a Pres of courage and character. JFK was a charismatic, popular Pres, but had he lived out his term(s), history might not have ended up treating him so well.

G.Clinchy@gmail.com"Know in your heart that all things are possible. We couldn't conceive of a miracle if none ever happened." -Libby Fudim

​I don't use the PM feature, so just email me direct at the address shown above.

While I don't disagree about the character of Bush Sr, at the time, part of what was used to defeat him for re-election was the famous "read my lips" quote about not raising taxes.

Which is more important? 1) Honoring the campaign promise? or 2) Doing what needs to be done, even if it is unpopular?

We sometimes get a better view of a President's achievements (or lack thereof), after time allows us to look at the record from a more unemotional perspective. Lincoln was not very well-liked, but history proved him a Pres of courage and character. JFK was a charismatic, popular Pres, but had he lived out his term(s), history might not have ended up treating him so well.

Very true.
As for Mr. Bush's tax increase, it's interesting to point out that was the beginning of the largest expansion of the US economy in history, with job growth and deficit reductions that spilled over to Clinton. Not saying that was the cause, but it certainly dispels the common misconception that taxes automatically equate to financial doom.

He could survive being shot out of the sky by Japanese, but couldn't survive a modest tax increase upon his base.

[quote=dnf777;513975]Very true.
As for Mr. Bush's tax increase, it's interesting to point out that was the beginning of the largest expansion of the US economy in history, with job growth and deficit reductions that spilled over to Clinton. Not saying that was the cause, but it certainly dispels the common misconception that taxes automatically equate to financial doom.
quote]

It would certainly be smart to carefully analyze what caused such a beneficial economic expansion. What could we do to make such an expansion happen again?

It was probably easier for people to suck up increase in taxes while everyone was doing well, than under today's economic conditions.

The mistake, it would appear, was not saving some of those surpluses for a rainy day ... but instead spending them right away.

I'm really expecting that at the end of this fiscal year the deficit will be larger than predicted. With tax credits like the $8000 for first-time buyers, more unemployed, etc. the tax revenues will be down. I'm betting the revenues will be down more than the slick DC accountants have led us to believe.

G.Clinchy@gmail.com"Know in your heart that all things are possible. We couldn't conceive of a miracle if none ever happened." -Libby Fudim

​I don't use the PM feature, so just email me direct at the address shown above.

Very true.
As for Mr. Bush's tax increase, it's interesting to point out that was the beginning of the largest expansion of the US economy in history, with job growth and deficit reductions that spilled over to Clinton. Not saying that was the cause, but it certainly dispels the common misconception that taxes automatically equate to financial doom.
quote]

It would certainly be smart to carefully analyze what caused such a beneficial economic expansion. What could we do to make such an expansion happen again?

It was probably easier for people to suck up increase in taxes while everyone was doing well, than under today's economic conditions.

The mistake, it would appear, was not saving some of those surpluses for a rainy day ... but instead spending them right away.

I'm really expecting that at the end of this fiscal year the deficit will be larger than predicted. With tax credits like the $8000 for first-time buyers, more unemployed, etc. the tax revenues will be down. I'm betting the revenues will be down more than the slick DC accountants have led us to believe.

You got my vote Gerry, if you ever decide to run for office!
If possible, and I doubt it, folks should look at the dramatic turnarounds that our economy has experienced, and try to sort out what happened, as you suggested. We sure had one helluva turnaround recently! Taking the names and parties out of the equation, what ECONOMIC POLICIES or other WORLD EVENTS triggered such an event? Like many phenomena, I doubt there is any one causative factor. The economy is so complex, like a living organism, it will be hard to break it down and analyze the component parts. Then of course, throw politics back onto the effort, because you never can really eliminate it!